Star Wars Episode III



I've seen it twice now, and it's very good. So much happens in the movie that you really need to see it twice to digest all the developments.

There are many things about the Star Wars story which are hopelessly naive, and at the top of the list is Lucas' very flat view of politics. In Lucas' favor, the politics of Star Wars are merely the background for the main story. But still, I cringed when Chancellor Palpatine declared in the Senate that "the Republic is to be re-organized into the First Galactic Empire." Why re-organize? Why not preserve the illusion of the Republic while wielding dictatorial powers?

Lucas' model is obviously the death of the Roman Republic, but he forgets that the title "Emperor" is essentially "Field Marshal" - the Romans required their political leaders to have been successful generals even during the Republic. There were few Roman Emperors who took office without having commanded an army in the field, and the few who did almost immediately engaged in military conquests to fix that hole in their resume (e.g., Claudius and the invasion of Britain in 41 A.D.).

A better parallel for Lucas would have been Nazi Germany, where Hitler never relinquished the extra-legal powers he was granted, and became the absolute dictator of the country -- without the developments being marked by any formal vote or debate (Hitler's status was later written into law formally, but that was after he had already become dictator-in-fact).

At any rate, a Republican form of government might well grant dictatorial powers to a "Maximum Leader" in the face of a perceived crisis, but it would not transform itself into a permanent military empire under the sole control of a civilian.

I realize I'm being a politics geek, but the moment rang false to me.

Posted: Sun - June 5, 2005 at 02:17 PM        

©